Kerala High Court Delays Decision on CBI Inquiry into Former Kannur ADM's Suicide
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Synopsis
The Kerala High Court has delayed its decision on an appeal from K. Manjusha, the wife of deceased ADM Naveen Babu, who seeks a CBI investigation into her husband's death, which has been marred by allegations of corruption and political motives.
Key Takeaways
- The Kerala High Court has reserved its ruling on a CBI probe.
- Naveen Babu was found dead after facing corruption allegations.
- Manjusha expresses distrust in the current investigation.
- Divya's accusations are seen as politically motivated.
- Concerns over the impartiality of the investigation have been raised.
Kochi, Feb 6 (NationPress) The Kerala High Court has postponed its ruling regarding the appeal filed by K. Manjusha, the wife of the deceased ADM Naveen Babu, challenging the decision of a single-judge bench that denied a CBI investigation into her husband’s tragic death.
Naveen Babu was discovered hanging at his official residence on October 15, 2024, just one day after facing public accusations of corruption from a local CPI-M leader.
The single-judge bench had rejected her petition on January 6, prompting Manjusha to declare her intention to appeal the judgment.
On Thursday, a division bench comprising Justices P.B. Suresh Kumar and Jobin Sebastian questioned the appellant about any alleged malice towards the current SIT that is investigating the case, indicating that the reasons presented for a CBI probe were insufficient.
However, Manjusha’s legal representative argued that the family is seeking a transparent investigation and expressed distrust in the ongoing probe, stating that even a Crime Branch inquiry would be more acceptable given their lack of faith in the current SIT.
The state government, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, which initially supported Naveen Babu’s family, opposed the call for a CBI investigation during the court sessions.
Babu, a highly regarded and honest officer, was found deceased a day after his official farewell in Kannur. The incident escalated when CPI-M's Kannur District Panchayat President P.P. Divya attended the event unannounced and accused him of corruption.
Divya’s allegations against Babu were linked to a delay in granting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a petrol pump application from T.V. Prasanth, an electrician at the Kannur Medical College, who was reportedly associated with Divya’s husband, bringing personal motives into question.
The family asserted that Divya’s statements were politically driven and caused severe distress to Babu.
Divya was subsequently arrested and briefly detained in relation to the case before resigning from her position amid growing scrutiny.
Manjusha’s counsel contended that Divya, accused of contributing to Babu's death, has strong ties to the ruling party, raising concerns over the impartiality of the investigation. Despite suggesting potential homicide, the SIT has not explored this angle.
The attorney further insisted that the court should request a report from the current investigating agency regarding their inquiry into the suspicious hanging and ensure that call records of both Divya and the District Collector of Kannur are preserved to uncover any broader conspiracy regarding Naveen Babu's demise.
The family has expressed dissatisfaction with the suicide investigation and the police's handling of the case. The counsel noted that the inquest and post-mortem were conducted abruptly and without the family's presence, highlighting that ligature marks found on Babu’s neck necessitate scientific examination.
